10/09/2018
EYE CARE EVERYWHERE: THE KEY TO KICKING POVERTY OUT OF NIGERIA
Man’s most precious gift—after life itself—is the sense of sight. This gift is central to man’s ability to participate in nearly all human activities–learning, working, leisure, etc.—living. THIS IS BECAUSE ABOUT 80% OF THE INFORMATION WE USE IN DAILY LIFE COME FROM OUR EYES. Full participation in these broad activities gives man the ability to attain socioeconomic development and make meaningful impact in the society. This gift, though freely given to man, needs optimal care in order to give each man a vision that will last him a lifetime. Unfortunately, there is a very real and devastating problem facing the abilities of men to see.
World over, there are about 217 million people whose eyes cannot providing them with best possible vision to learn, work, play, etc. They are VISUALLY IMPAIRED and in their present states, cannot perform to the best of their abilities at any task requiring good vision simply because they can’t see very well! ABOUT 21 MILLION OF THEM LIVE IN NIGERIA ALONE; THAT IS ALMOST THE POPULATION OF ABUJA AND LAGOS COMBINED!
There is another 36 million people who have effectively lost their precious gifts of sight! These ones are BLIND and in their current states, cannot do any task requiring vision at all! They depend on those who can see better either wholly or partially to survive. ABOUT 1.5 MILLION OF THEM LIVE IN NIGERIA ALONE; THAT WILL FILL THE AKPABIO STADIUM IN UYO FIFTY-TWO TIMES OVER!
To worsen matters, there are about 1 BILLION people in the world who cannot see things close to them clearly! That is, 1 out of every 7 persons on earth who cannot do simple tasks such as passing a thread through a needle hole or read a book with ease. In essence, they cannot handle any responsibility that needs good vision at near, such as working on a laptop computer, reading books, typing/reading text messages, secretarial duties, etc., with the current states of their eyes!
WORRYINGLY, ABOUT 89% OF ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE POOR!
REGRETTABLY, 80% OF THE CAUSES OF THESE VISION DISABILITIES ARE AVOIDABLE; THEY CAN EITHER BE PREVENTED OR TREATED WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.
Simple pairs of recommended eyeglasses and/or simple cataract surgeries can restore normal vision to about 75% of the 21 million visually impaired in Nigeria and stop them from depending on others. Recommended glasses and cataract surgeries can also restore quality vision to about 56% of the 1.5 million blind people in Nigeria.
Just these two interventions alone can empower over 15 million Nigerians to take up gainful engagements and boost our economy. They will join the fight against poverty and help grow the Nigerian economy.
Now that we know, what can we do? How can we rid the world of this blindness epidemic? How can we help stop the next father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, grandpa, grandma, friend, colleague, neighbor, customer, partner, associate, etc., from losing vision?
I’m extremely worried because if we don’t do something fast, I don’t know how I will continue to live happily knowing that 3 out of the next 4 people that may lose their sight shouldn't have if I had done something. Are you worried too? If you are, then together, let’s do something.
On Thursday, 11th of October 2018, concerned people like you and I from around the world will, in their respective cities and countries, do something to stop the world from going blind. On that they, we will all mark the 2018 World Sight Day. We will all join hands to draw the attention of key decision makers, policymakers, government officials, patients, partners/donors, members of the health team, civil societies, traditional rulers, the public, the media, etc. within our environment, to the blindness epidemic in Nigeria. We will organize rallies in major cities of the world and in Nigeria, make presentations on news outlets, organize health talks, screen people for vision problems, help people with vision problems get adequate care, teach people how to take care of their eyes and vision, etc.
We have been doing these and more in the past, we will continue to do even more because we care! Come join us let’s take and resolve to drive poverty out of Nigeria and out of the world!
You are welcome.
THIS MESSAGE IS COURTESY OF THE NIGERIAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION (NOA)
Contact us on:
Phone: +2348054347774, +2348038707139
Whatsapp: +2348189238823
Email: info@noang.org
Oyo State Chapter:
08039381959, 08060362471
Whatsapp: 08039381959
Email: noaoyoofficial@gmail.com
